Thursday Takeaways: Maryland
10/28/2021 3:00:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana head football coach Tom Allen addressed the media on Thursday (Oct. 28) in front of the Hoosiers trip to Maryland for a noon kickoff on the Big Ten Network at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium.
Below is a partial transcript of the press conferences, while video of the full media session can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
Tom Allen | Head Coach
On the health of the quarterback room…
TA: I would say that both have been rehabbing strongly, even throwing some. Definitely progressing in that direction, but the predominant snaps were Donaven [McCulley] and Grant [Gremel]. Since those guys have had so little preparation [with the first-team offense], that has been the focus, to get those guys the reps that they need. It has been very positive. It is a whole group effort with everyone coming together to elevate their focus and their execution -- the staff and everybody. The whole crew, offense, defense, and special teams all working together. The bottom line is it has been a very positive week.
On establishing the run at Maryland...
TA: I think it's very important. You have to do everything you can do, no matter who is in that [quarterback] position. You have to be able to run the football effectively and that allows you to do other things as well. It sets the tempo and a tone and allows you to control the football in the way that you need to. Then to be able to keep their explosive offense off the field [is a part of that]. A lot of things with all of that. I think that would be a very consistent variable each and every week, but obviously this week it becomes more important.
On Tiawan Mullen and Reese Taylor…
TA: As far as the corners, we are really trying to get both of those guys back. They have been working extremely hard and our medical staff has been relentless in trying to get those guys ready. We'll see. I don't know anything for sure. They will be a game-time decision. We are just trying to get them [healthy] so they can play. They are obviously a valuable part of our defense and special teams and we need to get them back.
On the running game and offensive line…
TA: [The running game] It's huge. There is no doubt about it, it starts up front. We talk about that all the time and it hasn't been to our standard. We have to be able to continue to work on it and it has been the focus of this entire week. We will continue to make some adjustments, if we need to, personnel wise. Bottom line is that each guy needs to own his area of responsibility, his technique, his toughness, his execution, working together in the combinations that we do in both the pass game and run game, the coaching staff and everyone included. It is a collective effort. We need to be able to run the football and have to be able to stop the run.
On if his young wide receivers will see more repetitions as the season progresses…
TA: You know, Malachi Holt-Bennett has been the guy out of those three that has kind of separated himself. We have been working him hard in practice and getting him a lot of practice reps, which will translate into more game reps and hopefully some more opportunities for him to be able to catch the ball during the game and be able to block and do everything we ask those guys to do. Jaquez Smith would be another guy that has been up there working with our ones and twos, rotating in and making plays. He actually made several catches this week in practice. Those would be the two guys of the young group that I expect to be able to contribute and be ready to go.
Below is a partial transcript of the press conferences, while video of the full media session can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
Tom Allen | Head Coach
On the health of the quarterback room…
TA: I would say that both have been rehabbing strongly, even throwing some. Definitely progressing in that direction, but the predominant snaps were Donaven [McCulley] and Grant [Gremel]. Since those guys have had so little preparation [with the first-team offense], that has been the focus, to get those guys the reps that they need. It has been very positive. It is a whole group effort with everyone coming together to elevate their focus and their execution -- the staff and everybody. The whole crew, offense, defense, and special teams all working together. The bottom line is it has been a very positive week.
On establishing the run at Maryland...
TA: I think it's very important. You have to do everything you can do, no matter who is in that [quarterback] position. You have to be able to run the football effectively and that allows you to do other things as well. It sets the tempo and a tone and allows you to control the football in the way that you need to. Then to be able to keep their explosive offense off the field [is a part of that]. A lot of things with all of that. I think that would be a very consistent variable each and every week, but obviously this week it becomes more important.
On Tiawan Mullen and Reese Taylor…
TA: As far as the corners, we are really trying to get both of those guys back. They have been working extremely hard and our medical staff has been relentless in trying to get those guys ready. We'll see. I don't know anything for sure. They will be a game-time decision. We are just trying to get them [healthy] so they can play. They are obviously a valuable part of our defense and special teams and we need to get them back.
On the running game and offensive line…
TA: [The running game] It's huge. There is no doubt about it, it starts up front. We talk about that all the time and it hasn't been to our standard. We have to be able to continue to work on it and it has been the focus of this entire week. We will continue to make some adjustments, if we need to, personnel wise. Bottom line is that each guy needs to own his area of responsibility, his technique, his toughness, his execution, working together in the combinations that we do in both the pass game and run game, the coaching staff and everyone included. It is a collective effort. We need to be able to run the football and have to be able to stop the run.
On if his young wide receivers will see more repetitions as the season progresses…
TA: You know, Malachi Holt-Bennett has been the guy out of those three that has kind of separated himself. We have been working him hard in practice and getting him a lot of practice reps, which will translate into more game reps and hopefully some more opportunities for him to be able to catch the ball during the game and be able to block and do everything we ask those guys to do. Jaquez Smith would be another guy that has been up there working with our ones and twos, rotating in and making plays. He actually made several catches this week in practice. Those would be the two guys of the young group that I expect to be able to contribute and be ready to go.
Players Mentioned
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